wanted: m305 308 recipe???

J

jarret

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Hello all,

Just getting into reloading for my m305. I'd like to know if anybody would like to share their proven recipes for their handloads.
I will be testing out a few based on the existing supplies that I have in my reloading box, but if anyone has advice for accurate, affordable, and readily available handloads. Please share.

I'm currenty possess blc2, varget , 3031, 4064.
For bullets I have 110gr RN hornady 3015, 150 gr tmj flat nose, 150gr tmj BT, 150gr round nose hornady 3035, 150gr soft point 3031 hornady .

Id be willing to buy other proven powders/ bullets, provided that I can find them in stores. (This has proven to be difficult in greater Vancouver )

Thanks so much!

Jarret
 
BLC2, 3031 and Varget are all good powders. I would use BLC2 because it meters perfectly.

The 150 flat base would be the first one I would try.

I usually load 42 gr of BLC2. A mild load. I once ran a test all the way down to 25 gr, but the gun still cycled just fine.
 
41.5 gr IMR4895 under a 168 match bullet is a proven go-to for the M14. Some have found better accuracy with a different charge but most find 41.5 shoots the best in their M14. Mine sure did.
 
A load that shoots well out of my evil, semi'd, Winchester M-14 will not necessarily do so out of your M305. No two rifles will shoot the same ammo the same way. You must work up the load for your rifle.
Anyway, IMR4064 gives more consistent accuracy than either 4895, but with match grade bullets out of my 1903A4. Not a lot of point to a match bullet out of either an evil M-14 or M305.(You can hunt with your's. Mine is too evil. sniff.). Neither are made for great target accuracy. Hunting accuracy is different and either will do that well enough. Worked up a load before it got declared evil using 150 grain Silvertips and IMR3031 that'd do for deer.
Oh, the 'IMR' part is important. Hodgdon makes and sells both IMR and their own Hodgdon brands with the same numbers. They're close but not exactly the same. The IMR tends to give slightly higher velocities, but with slightly more powder. Not a big deal, but you cannot use IMR data for H powders.
 
For target shooting to 500 yds, the Hornady 150 gr FMJ is a great choice. To 800 yds, the Sierra 168 gr MK is better, and to 1000 yds, the 175 gr Sierra MK is better yet.

There are many powders that work well, and you have named some of them.
 
3031, Varget, 4895 and 4064 are all good powders. I have never gotten 147 and 155 gn bullets to shoot well consistently (although I've netted my best M305 group with a 155 gn Horandy SST). I now use 168 gn Hornady HPBT rounds (168 gn Sierra Match King is an alternative). So all under a 168 gn hollow-point, boat-tail (all seated to 2.82") I would first try 39.5 of 3031. While every rifle seems to prefer something different, this load has performed well in 4 different M305 rifles.

I have also gotten good performance from 42.5 gn of Varget under a 168 gn.

Let us know how you make out.
 
You do have a reloading manual, right? They are not expensive. I recommend the Lyman and Sierra manuals as a start point.

The M305/M14 is not just another .308 Win. You need to use powders that are compatible with the rifle's gas system. All of IMR3031, IMR4895, IMR4064, H4895, H335, W748, and BLC2 are suitable and can produce fine accuracy as well. IMR4895 was the MILSPEC propellant for the 7.62NATO and was also used in 7.62 match ammo. IMR3031 was also used for military 7.62 match ammo. I've always had excellent results with both IMR3031 and IMR4895 and consider these baseline powders for the .308 Win.

A few tips when reloading for the M14 and M1 Garand;

1. Use the correct propellant
2. Stick to bullets in the 150-168 grain range. Match bullets will shoot best. The Hornady 150gr FMJ is the most accurate non-match .308 FMJ bullet and is also one of the cheapest.
3. Seat primers below flush with the case head.
4. Keep brass trimmed below max OAL.
5. Always FL resize.
6. Don't try to get more than 4-5 firing cycles out of a piece of brass. The rifle is hard on brass
 
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as far as the number of reloads you get out of brass, follow the 4 and done rule or the 3 and done for once fired- I've had a head separate on a Winchester 4x once fired- and no, it wasn't excessive headspace- the bolt locked down, the gas split the mag and the stock in 2- so I learned the Hard way
 
I only use the heavier and tougher military brass in my 7.62 Garands and used to reload it for my M14 before it became a safe queen complements of the great and all-knowing bureaucracy in the sky. Even with the military brass 4-5 cycles is a good place to stop.
 
BLC-2 was made for the .308 and the 147-150 grain bullet range. Meters like poop through a goose too. That would be my first choice of the ones you have.
 
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